~Smiles~ Unlimited!!

This is my 100th post!!! Yesss I am 100 posts old... And still going strong.. :)*Zordaar Taaliyaan (huge round of applauds) to All Smiles for making it this far*

I became familiar with the blog world after reading my friend's blogs, who happen to be my best buddies in real life and I got inspired to start blogging. Sadiya's blog was the first ever blog I read in and out. I never thought I would/could write anything at all. The mere thought of writing something and putting it for public display is something that I could never comprehend. I am way too protective of my thoughts, and don't like being judged by any aira gaira (random) person. Considering the person I am, I still can’t believe that I have got to 100 posts and still having fun!!

I am not here coz I have ample of time to kill or coz I am lonely. I am here only for my sheer love of writing and sharing experiences. I believe experiences and adventures shared together, without a doubt, make up some of the most precious times of our lives. If, over the past months, I have managed to put a smile on someone’s face then I haven’t wasted my time. If I have caused any of you to groan I sincerely apologize.

All those lovely people who leave comments and say many kind words encouraging me, those lurkers who silently endorse this space, this post is a small and humble token of appreciation to you all....THANK YOU!!

On that note, pour yourself some bubbly…lets clink glasses and raise a toast for those small and simple pleasures that make Life soo beautiful. I know I am quite late in the game and got some ground to make up for.... So, all you loyal readers of this blog, be assured, I will be around for some more time to come!!!

Oh Gawd….It’s Monday!! I have hoped and hoped this morning that the clock would magically turn back and make it Sunday again, so I wouldn’t have to leave my cozy warm bed and face the world... well, can you blame me after the performance of Men in Blue (meri izzat ki tho waat lag gayi).....Yeh Ghalib ji ka sher unke naam -

Anu is right! I gotta get my loyalties right, Go Black Caps!!!

Why is it that weekends always pass in the blinking of an eye, while five days of work doesn't? - An eternal mystery to me. Kaash.. only if we could do something to make them a bit longer. I am pretty sure I am not the only one to think like this, come Monday morning you see the very same pepped up individuals who sang ‘Have a great Weekend’ dragging their steps with long faces on Monday. I know what my goal for the future is now, to find a job where I can have a three-day weekend (Lucky Govind). But on second thoughts how would the weekends be special if we didn’t have 5 weekdays (Ssshhh..this is my confused soul speaking)

So, chalo all you smart people – here is your mission for the day….Put your thinking caps on and figure this out - How do we make the weekends longer?? While you do this, I will try and figure out if there is a way of dozing away on desk with my eyes open.

Chalo ab thoda sa kaam bhi karloon…Signing off with hope on this splendid Monday morning that holds the promise of a wonderful week ahead - Have fun!!

I LOVE music...no, actually, I am obsessed with good music. If I am not listening to music, I will be humming (every nook in my bathroom is waqif with this talent of mine) and other times I play soundtracks in my head, an oddity of mine (ah haa just when you thought you knew everything about me)…I like anything that has soul stirring lyrical values, words move me.. I can listen to a melodious voice reciting words that pierce your soul till the cows come home..

So, what am I listening to right now? Ghazals by the indisputable Ghazal King, Jagjit Singh.
He is awesome – his amazing voice blows me away every time I listen to him. The range of emotions he flaunts in his ghazals are unmatchable. Listening to his tracks invoke all sorts of emotions in you. Here is one elegant ghazal from the album I have been listening to, Insight –

Garaj baras pyaasi dharti par phir paani de maulaa
chidiyon ko daanaa, bachchon ko gud-dhaanii de maulaa

do aur do ka jod hamesha chaar kahaan hota hai
soch samajh waalon ko thodi naadaani de maulaa

phir roshan kar zehar kaa pyaalaa chamakaa nai saliben
jhoothon ki duniyaa mein sach ko taabaani de maulaa

phir moorat se baahar aakar chaaron aur bikhar jaa
phir mandir ko koi meera deewaani de maulaa

tere hote koi kisi ki jaan kaa dushman kyon ho
jeene waalon ko marne kii aasaanii de maulaa

A soulful rendition - incredible lyrics by Nida Fazli and the velvety voice of the maestro himself... An absolute treat for the ears.

The New year festival or Ugadi comes close on the heels of Holi. While the strong colors of Holi start fading away, the freshness of spring lingers on with sprightliness all around. Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervor in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. While it is called Ugadi in A.P. and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as Gudi Padawa.

Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. A day when mantras are chanted and predictions are made for the New Year. Prayers for health, wealth, prosperity and success are part of the festival. Ugadi is considered the most auspicious time to start new ventures and make new beginnings.

The celebration of Ugadi is marked by religious zeal and social merriment. Special dishes are prepared for the occasion. "Ugadi pachchadi" is one such dish that is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tamarind, which truly reflect life - a combination of sweet, sour and bitter tastes! The inner significance of this preparation is to indicate that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow and all experiences have to be treated alike…Welcome everything and accept it with grace.

Here’s wishing a very prosperous new year to everyone. May this year usher in peace and serenity to the world, less/no natural calamities, and bring joy, happiness & fortune to all.

It is amazing what a stretch of fine weather can do to your moods.. Yup, that’s right! I belong to one those weird sorts and just when the weather lady got me all excited with an upbeat forecast for couple more weeks to come, Surya maharaj has decided on playing peek-a-boo.. Oh, well...Watch out for dark days ahead..In case you've forgotten, the clocks go back this weekend, meaning less daylight for another six months or so. We'll miss you daylight saving.

Of late, I have developed this annoying bad habit where I am not completing any book, just reading the first 10-15 pages and jumping to another book, still trying to figure out what has overcome me.. Venu thinks it is the book (samajhdhaar bachha) and me thinks it is ME. Before I forget, did you see how West Indies strangled Pakistan by 54 runs(thukku thukku kottarule) ..

I had a fantabulous week and no, it has got nothing to do with me being in the office only for 3 days (Do you really believe that??)
Observations of the week -
* Cute guys should never be invited to training sessions as they can be very distracting and any possibility of you listening and asking intelligent questions to impress everyone in the room is out of the window.
* The consequences of your past behaviour dictate your future behaviour, YES I have used the oven mit this time.
* Some people are just soo dumb and will remain dumb. No point in making excuses for them.

Ok, must dash now.. It is Big Guys’s turn today and he is treating us to a lunch at
Al Dente...Yummyyy..no pigging too much ‘cause dinner pe jaana hai and “Pehchan Kaun” is cooking (hmm...slurp, slurp). Phir Milenghe till then be safe and have a good one!!

The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup is currently taking place in the West Indies from March 13 to April 28, 2007. There will be a total of 51 matches played at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, which is three fewer than at the 2003 World Cup, despite the two extra teams taking part. It will be contested by 16 nations divided into four groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will then compete in a "Super 8" format, similar to the previous "Super 6" format, from which the semi-finalists will be decided. The Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny, Jamaica hosted the Opening Ceremony on 11 March.

Good news for all the cricket lovers, The 2007 World Cup will not, after all, be a one-horse race. After dominating the cricket season for nearly a decade since winning the World Cup in 1999 the Australians look vulnerable this year. It might be cruel to call this good news as its fans are undoubtedly hurting but let's admit it, there's also an extra thrill in seeing a cocky and arrogant champion lose his crown. The King from Down Under is not expected to abdicate the throne willingly so lets not expect the Aussies to turn over and play dead.

Two teams to watch out for are South Africa and New Zealand. The former have, ever since their re-induction into international cricket after decades of apartheid-related boycott, been reduced in earlier Cups to the bridesmaid but never the bride. But the law of averages and the law of cricketing balance favors them this time. New Zealand, if it keeps current form going, can be a handful for any team on any day at any venue. And as for West Indies, to rely on a single batting genius - Brian Lara- to carry West Indies through a six-week tournament is just asking too much, don’t you think?

Pakistan teems with raw sporting talent and those mercurial men in green are quite capable of springing a surprise if they keep their heads calmly together. That's a big if, though.

India is still the strongest team on paper, but cricket sadly is played in the outdoors. On paper, India boasts of at least three of the highest batting averages in One-Dayers - those of Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. Virender Sehwag, Mahender Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh are known for quick scoring. Their strike rates are up there among the best in the business. Why do I sound a bit skeptical? Quite simply because I'm not sure the present bunch has enough all-rounders to tilt the scales in their favour.

Cricket, like life, can turn out to be a graveyard for grumpy predictions. That is its charm and its poetry. Lets hope and pray Rahul Dravid lifts that Cup on April 28.

Wishing the Indian cricket team all the best in the World Cup matches….

Chalo, off I go now...Take care and have a great weekend people!!

Gulal, red, green, yellow and countless
A day's canvas - a riot of colors
Lively crowd running hither and thither,
rejoicing at the marvel of colors.
A day filled with lustre and gaiety,
A day to smear our dreams-
with a splash of vibrant frenzy colors
Holi Hai! A spring of unbounded fun and frolic!!

Holi...Indian festival of colors! It is also a festival to welcome the first stirrings of spring. Colours fill the atmosphere as people throw all sorts of colours in the air showing great joy and mirth in the arrival of this Spring Festival. Holi marks the end of the winter gloom and rejoices in the bloom of the springtime, the other name of the festival is FUN. It is such a colourful and joyous sight to watch huge piles of bright red, magenta, pink, green and blue everywhere on the streets. Buying those colours seems as you are bringing joys and colour to your home and into your life.

Songs, dance, drinks, food everything goes in excess when it is time for Holi. It can be said, "Life turns Colourful" when it is time for Holi.

A Very Happy and Colourful Holi to You and Yours. Hope this Holi paints your life with colours of happiness and love.